Casting target



Feb.V 29, 1944.' P. coLALcA v2,343,002

CASTING TARGET Fileduarch 2, 194s 2 sheets-sheet' 1 f Gttorne-g Feb. 29, 1944. P. coLALucA v 2,343,002

Y CASTING TARGET Filed uarch 2, 1945 2 sheets-sheet z [D] l I Din IM l\\\\\\\\\\\\ C Q', Zmvemox:

(Ittotneg Patented Feb. 29, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT `OFFICE CASTING TARGET Phillip Colaluca, Youngstown, Ollio Application March 2, 1943, Serial No. 477,781 s claims. (ci. 27a- 102) This invention relates to a casting target.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a taget adapted for use in connection with casting, f

A further object of the invention is the provision of a casting target provided with means for simulating the striking action of a fish with respect to the casting plug.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a casting target of a bouyant con'- struction capable of supporting itself in water in which it is adapted to be used.

The casting target shown and described herein has been designed to provide a target for practice casting wherein an accurate cast registering in the center-most portion of the target area will activate a mechanism contained in the casting target and eject a sh model in an action simulating the leaping action of a live sh. The

casting target is so designed that casting plugs striking within the main target area will be directed to the mechanism portions thereof in such a manner that casting plugs used will register with the sh model in a manner to cause the same to become attached thereto and at the same time cause its ejection from the target. The person making the cast may then reel in the plug and fish model and the target is reset for another try. The device of the invention is self-contained and is so designed that a major portion of its structure is normally beneath the surface of the body of water in which it is positioned. The casting target is provided with a large annular semi-cone shaped iiange, the uppermost edge of which forms a circular rim above the surface of the Water and which is preferably of a size comparable with the conventional casting ring targets heretofore employed and known in the art.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of partsand in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can in a body Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional illustra' tion with parts broken raway illustrating the mechanism employed for ejecting a model sh from the casting target.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the fish model as employed in the device.

By referring to the drawings and Figures l and 2 in particular it will be seen that the casting target comprisesv a rectangular body portion I i! with a closed bottom I I and provided at its uppermost ends with a relatively large annular semicone shaped ange I2. The periphery of the annular flange I2 is formed in a rounded rim I3, the diameter of which ispreferably the'sa'me as that yof conventional casting target rings heretofore employed in practice casting. As'illustrated in Figure l almost all of the device is normally submerged beneath the surface 'I4 of the body of water in which the device is positioned, the exception being the rounded rim I3 Vwhich is preferably positioned `an inch or two above the surface of the Water so as to provide a definite visible target. The device of the invention as` illustrated in Figure 1 is preferably adjustably'fa'nchored by means including an anchor bracket? I5'in' Water deep enough to accommodate th structure and at a desirable distance from the casting oat orv other area utilized by those practicing casting'.A

When viewed from such a location, the device 'of the invention presents the appearancerof the 'conventional ring target and provides a target structure possessing certain points of novelty not here- -tofore found in comparable structures.

By referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will n" 'be seen that the relatively large wide ange I2 of the structure forms an inwardly sloping surface leading from the rounded rim I 3fthereof to a centrally positioned rectangular vopening I 6 which denes the uppermost ends of the rectangular 'body member I0. A partial closure IT is supported by brackets I8 Within the rectangular opening I6 and is so formed that a centrallypositioned opening I9 therein is located below the uppermost edge thereof and continuing in effect vthe sloping surface area of the relatively large wide flange I2. The partial closure I1 is provided so that mechanism located in the rectangular body structure l0 ymay be removed and replaced from time to time as necessary and desirable. Positioned within the rectangular body member I0 and having portions thereof adjacent to 'and registering with the opening I9 of the partiall closure I1 there is a mechanical structure which is employed for ejecting a model fish from the casting target at such times as the casting Y `plug enters the opening I9 and actuates the mechanism itself.

By referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, an enlarged detail view of the mechanism may be seen. The mechanism comprises a base member 20 adapted to be supported above the bottom Il of the rectangular body member l of the target by means of a plurality of adjustable legs 2| positioned thereon. Extending vertically above the base 20 there are a pair of guide memebrs 22. A cross member 23 provided with vertically positioned openings adjacent each end thereof is positioned in a slidable manner on the guide members 22 and is capable of vertical movement with respect thereto. Positioned centrally on the cross member 23 there is a holding member 24 which is rmly affixed to the cross member 23 and which is adapted to receive the lowermost portion of a iish model generally indicated by the numeral 25 which is positioned in vertical position therein. In order that' the iish model may be held in vertical position so that it may be moved vertically by the mechanism, a pair of secondary guide members 26 are also positioned on the base 2| and extend vertically thereabove and are provided at their uppermost ends with horizontally positioned Y-shaped guides 21 which engage portions of the iish model 25 so as to hold it in proper position. Positioned adjacent the two pair of vertically extending guide members 22 and 26 there is a mechanism adapted to impart vertical movement to the cross member 23 and hence the holding member 24 thereon and any object therein such asthe fish model 25, in order that the same may b e. ejected through the opening I8 and outwardly from the casting target itself. The mechanism may obviously comprise any form of device capable of imparting movement to the iish model. Its preferable form as illustrated inFigure .3' comprises a spring wound device in which a coil spring, not shown, is enclosed in a circular spring case 28 which in turn is pivoted about a spring driven shaft 29 which in turn is secured through a ratchet, not shown, to a mounting bracket 30 which serves to support the spring case 28 in a manner so that the unwinding spring action causes the entire spring case to revolve in a clock-wise direction. In order that this movement may be utlized to impart upward movement to the iish model 25, a striking arm 3i is aflixed to the spring case 28 at one side thereof and extends outwardly therefrom a distance sufficient to enable it to come in contact with the lowermost portion of the cross member 23 so as to move it upwardly along the guide members 22. As shown in Figure 3 the spring case 28 and the striking arm 3| are shown held in set position by means of a trigger assembly positioned on a bracket 32 which in turn is supported by a structural member 33 which is affixed to the base` 20 and structurally supporting side Walls 34. The trigger assembly comprises a trigger member 35 pivoted by means of a pivot 36 to an extension of the bracket 32 and is provided at; its outermost end with a roller 31 which is adapted to normally prevent the spring case 28 from revolving as it comes in contact with a keeper 38 positioned on the periphery of the spring case 28. A small coil spring 3.9 positioned between the trigger member 35 and an extension of the bracket 32 normally holds the roller 31 in direct contact with the keeper 33 thus preventing the spring case 28 from revolving. In order to. provide means for activating the trigger member 35 upon a casting plug dropping into the casting target and passing through the opening I9 in the closure member |1 thereof and hence entering the mouth of the fish model 25 which is positioned immediately therebelow, means has been provided for utilizing the closing motion of the sh model mouth to activate the trigger 35. This comprises a pin 40 positioned through openings in extensions of the bracket 32 and movable with respect thereto, the lower end of the pin 40 being in direct engagement with the uppermost section of the trigger member 35. The uppermost end of the pin 40 is provided with an eyelet 4| Vinto which the lower end of a trigger rod 42 is Inovably positioned. The trigger rod 42 is pivoted by means of a pivot 43 to a supporting bracket 44 which forms in effect a continuation of the bracket 33 heretofore described. A small coil spring 45 is positioned between a portion of the bracket 44 and the trigger rod 42 so as to normally hold the trigger rod 42 in the position shown in Figure 3. The uppermost and outermost end of the trigger rod 42 is provided with a face plate 45 which is positioned adjacent the mouth section of the iish model 25 and in Figure 3 the mouth section of the iish model 25 may be seen to comprise a pivoted jaw-like member 41 held by means of a pair of pivots 43 on the body portion 25 of the ish model. The pivoted jaw section 41 of the mouth portion of the sh model 25 is provided with a coil spring which normally tends to close the jaw'41 as shown in dotted lines. This action is prevented by means of a trigger device formed within the mouth area of the fish model p25 which trigger device is actuated by the contact thereagainst of a casting plug. It will tl'lusy be seen that when. a casting plug enters the opened, mouth of the sh model 25 the jaw section 41 closes and a projection 49 formed thereon engages. the face plate 46 of the trigger rod 42 and imparts downward movement to the lower end of the trigger rod which is positioned in the eyelet 4| of the pin 43. This action causes the pin 40 to move downwardly against the trigger member 35, and, as the same is pivoted by the pivot 36, the roller end section 31 thereof moves upwardly with respect to the keeper 38 on the spring case 28 which immediately permits the spring case 28 to revolve in a clock-wise manner. As the spring in the case is relatively stiff and as the spring shaft 29 is held stationary with respect to the supporting structure of the device, the resulting action is in the striking arm 3| moving through approximately three-fourths of a circle and then striking the cross member 23 and moving it upwardly with an exceedingly rapid and forceful action, thus causing the iish model 25 supported by the cross member 23 and holding member 24 thereon to be ejected from the casting target. The striking arm 3| continues its travel until it has reached approximately nine-tenths of its, possible circle, at which time a keeper 50 formed on the spring case 23 comes in Contact with a spring tensioned stopmember 5| which is pivoted by means of a pivot 52 to the. bracket 33. A relatively stiff coil spring 53 is positioned between an extension of the stop member 5| and the base 20 in a manner so. that its tension must be overcome in order to permit the spring case 23 to continue to revolve after it has struck the pivoted stop member 5|. This stop member 5| is provided so that the exceedingly rapid and forceful rotation of the spring case 28 may be brought under control and the device reset for succeeding operations. When the keeper 50 strikes the stop member 5l most of the revolving movement is checked and as the spring 53 is extended and the stop member 5I moves into position to permit the keeper 5i? to pass a strip of gear teeth 5t formed on the periphery of the spring case 28 come into engagement with a gear 55 which is positioned in appropriate location by means of a shaft 56 supported by a gear casing 51. Thus the rapidly revolving spring case 28 having completed approximately nine-tenths of its revolution is checked and controlled through the following onetenth of the revolution by means of the gear strip 54 and the gear 55, which gear 55 drives a series of idler gears, indicated in dotted lines in the gear case 51, the net result of which is the provision of sufficient resistance to the spring case 28 to cause it to move relatively slower through the final one-tenth of the revolution which terminates with the keeper 3.5i on the periphery of the case 28 coming into Contact with the roller 31 on the trigger member 35 which has in the meantime assumed the reset position due to the action cf the springs 39 and 45. rI'hus the device is in position for the next cycle dependent only upon the fish model 25 or a duplicate thereof being replaced in the mechanism. When this has been done and when a casting plug again enters the fish model mouth area and causes the same to close thereupon, the complete operating cycle as described is repeated and the fish model 25 is again ejected from the device. This operation continues as long as the spring in the spring case 23 retains suflicient tension to continue to revolve the spring case 23 and hence the striking arm 3l in rapid operation. When the spring in the spring case 28 has become unwound the mechanism must be removed from the rectangular body member I of the casting target and rewound by afxing a key to the shaft 29, which as has heretofore been described issecured with respect to the mounting of the spring case by means of a ratchet (not shown). In connection with such winding operation it is obvious that if desired a flexible shaft may be extended from the winding shaft to the uppermost portions of the casting target or that some other means for winding the mechanism without removing the same from the rectangular body member I0 of the device may be employed. It is also obvious that if desired the complete spring wound mechanism may be replaced by an electrically or pneumatically actuated mechanism so long as the net result is the ejection of the fish model 25 from the casting target at such times as a casting plug enters the mouth area of the fish model. and activates the mechanism.

By referring now to Figure 4 of the drawings, an end elevation of the fish model 25 may be seen lwherein the body of the fish model is indicated by the numeral 25 and the hinged jaw section 41 is shown in open relation thereto. A coil spring 5B normally tends to close the pivoted jaw section 41 against the body vmember portion 25 and is prevented from such operation by means of a rod 59 extending directly across the mouth opening and having the free end thereof hooked in under a catch rod 60. The rod 59 is pivoted by means of a pivot 6I to the jaw portion 41 of the fish model back of the pivot axis. It

will thus be seen that a casting plug entering the mouth area comes in contact with the rod 55 extending directly thereacross and moves 5 it out from in under the catch rod Sli which permits the spring 5B to close the jaw portion 41 and retain therein the casting plug. This action, as has heretofore been described, is used to actuate the ejecting mechanism.

It will thus be seen that a casting target has been disclosed which will enable Sportsmen practicing casting to achieve a substantially more realistic practice cast than has heretofore been the case, as a casting plug falling into the target l5 area and hence through the opening i9 into the mouth area of the fish model 25 will cause the mechanism in the target to eject the model sh which has attached itself to the casting plug.

The result in actual operation is a realistic and 20 extremely interesting operation as the well placed cast immediately results in the striking cf the model fish on the plug used and the flshs leaping out of the target from whence it may be reeled in by the person making the cast.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a casting target the combination of a hollow target member and mechanism positioned therein adapted to eject a fish model therefrom, the said mechanism comprising a pair of vertical guides having a movable member positioned thereon, means formed on the said movable member for receiving the said fish model, a

rotatable striking arm positioned adjacent the said vertical guides and adapted to impart rapid upward movement to the said movable member, and means for rotating the said striking member responsive to a casting plug coming in contact therewith.

2. The combination of a casting `target and a fish model, the said fish model positioned in the said target, a spring tensioned movable jaw member on said sh model and a latch normally holding the said jaw member in open relation to the said fish model, the said jaw member adapted to close upon a casting plug striking the said latch, and means for ejecting the said fish from the said target at such time as the said jaw member closes.

flsh model, the'said fish model positioned in the said target, a spring tensioned movable jaw member on said fish model and a latch normally holding the said jaw member in open relation to the said fish model, the said jaw member adapted to close upon a casting plug striking the said latch, and means for ejecting the said fish from the said target at such time as the said jaw member closes, the said means comprising a pair of vertical guides having a movable member positioned thereon and adapted to hold the said fish model, a rotatable striking arm positioned adjacent the said vertical guides and adapted to impart rapid upward movement to the said movabley member and the sh model thereon and means for rotating the said striking arm responsive to movement of the said jaw member.

PHILLIP COLALUCAL 3. The combination of a casting target and a l 

